My favorite cookie recipe

My mom and I love to watch the Barefoot Contessa and saw a video on how to make Double Chocolate Almond Cookies. I couldn’t find the video but we watched it on Hulu so you might be able to view it there. If not we found the recipe on the Food Network.

Their best when their hot out of the oven.

 

mmmmmm so good.

I think they look great on a beautiful tray

 

the macDaddy cookies.

Boy Am I Tired

I am tired today. Yesterday in my kitchen, my mom & I cooked...a lot. We roasted a chicken in the crockpot. I started making my batch of chocolate chip cookies for all the birthdays coming up.Then we used it to make chicken salad, chicken wraps, and chicken enchilada soup. We started bone broth in the crockpot with onions, carrots, thyme, garlic and other herbs. While that was going we made homemade dog food. Yes, my dog is spoiled! Before bed we began soaking our whole wheat flour for biscuits tomorrow morning. All I can say is that I am tired!

Dad's Birthday Dinner

This week is my dad's birthday and so we are going to make a dish from the Barefoot Contessa. Patstitsio is a kind of Greek lasagna and it just sounds yummy! He has also requested instead of traditional cake an old family favorite that my grandmother makes...Oreo Cookie Cake! Maybe I'll share the recipe next time. :-)

1st Catering Job

Lately, I have become famous in my family for my cookies. This June, I got the biggest cookie order ever when my aunt called me to ask for 400 cookies for a big birthday party. So I get my things out and start cooking.



I used one of my new gifts to shop for supplies. I love my monogrammed market basked. Thanks Aunt Nene! Here it is home from the grocery store.

For my birthday, I got a kitchen-aid mixer and I really got to use it. I started to make a double recipe of chocolate chip cookies.

After that they went in the oven on my stone platter, which just so happened to be a Christmas gift. Are you sensing a theme with my gifts?



Packing them up for the big party

From what I hear my cookies were a big hit!



 



Make your cookies special.

This is not a normal box of cookies because I have a way to make them special. First you make the cookie dough. I use the Tollhouse chocolate chip recipe. Then after that take a spoon full of dough and give it to some one you love. My mom usually gets the spoon but if she has company they get one too. After that you bake the cookies. When they are done take that special some one a plate of warm cookies with a glass of cold milk and give it to them. This way will make your cookies special to everyone you love.

Another fun idea is to package some cookies in a paper food box. We found this one at Michael's. Then tie it with festive ribbon and give the cookies as a special gift.

Delicious Christmas Treat...

Have been having fun watching the Food Network on Hulu. Here is a fun holiday treat to make.

Scones

Pioneer Woman's Pot Roast

Every Sunday we try to invite people from our church for lunch. This past week we made the Pioneer Woman's pot roast. With Rosemary and thyme to give it flavor it cooked all morning and was ready for us in the afternoon. It was served with mashed potatoes and rosemary olive oil bread. Doesn't it look delicious?

Today I decided to find out how to make a tomato sauce.

Gluten Free Cupcakes

Last week we made gluten free cup cakes for a birthday.

It was from a box but we added fresh lemon juice and frosted them with cream cheese frosting. They were awesome.

We followed the recipe on the back of the box but added the juice of a fresh lemon. Then baked them in decorative cupcake holders. Cream cheese frosting finished this birthday treat.

Monster Cookies

My family makes these all the time so I thought I'd share them with you.

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 -ounce jar creamy peanut butter
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2cup multi-colored chocolate candies
• 1/2 cup choclate chips
• 1/4 cup raisins optional
• 2 teaspoos baking soda
• 4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. In a very large mixing bowl, combinde the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter. Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips, raisins,if using, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inhes apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Chicken, Black Bean & Goat Cheese Tostadas

Last week we made Chicken, Black Bean & Goat Cheese Tostadas. It has tortillas, onion, chili powder, black beans, chicken, and goat cheese. We toasted the tortillas and cooked the onion, chili powder and beans in the iron skillet. Then we mashed the beans with a fork and when the tortillas were done, we sliced the chicken and put the black beans on it. Then we added the chicken and goat cheese.

Eight people loved it and had seconds. I really like cooking for others and I love it when they want more.

My Newest Cookbook

Thanks Steiningers for my cookbook

Sweet Potato Corn Chowder

I made this for my family and grandma.

Sweet Potato Corn Chowder

• 6 oz. bacon, chopped
• 2 small onion
• 1 cup chopped sweet red pepper
• 1 cup chopped leek
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• 2 tsp. marjoram
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 4 sweet potatoes, peeled & cut in small chunks
• 2 cups whole kernel corn
• 2 (14 oz.) can chicken broth
• 3 cups water
• 4 tsp. cornstarch
• 1 cup heavy cream

Directions:
In a 4 qt. saucepan, saute bacon until crisp. Remove and set aside. Add onion, red pepper, leek, marjoram, thyme, salt and pepper to bacon drippings. Saute 10 minutes. Add sweet potatoes, corn, chicken broth and 2 1/2 cups of water. Cook until sweet potatoes are tender 15-20 minutes. Mix cornstarch with remaining 1/2 cup water; stir into soup mixture. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly, cook until thickened. Reduce heat low, stir in cream and bacon; heat just until bubbles appear at side of pan. Serve immediately.  

What's Growing

This year in my vegetable garden I am growing Roma tomatoes. It is a work in progress.

Our herb garden has chive, sweet basil, lavender, and lots of mint.

Our Cookbook

A homeschool course inspired by Julie & Julia only this will be Kaelyn & Mom.

We have chosen our cookbook and our blog template. The goal is to cook our way through the book and blog our kitchen adventures for all to read.